Chapter 67 - The Second Tea Party

Ferda looked over the matters taking place at Valdrova Castle.

He had wondered if something might have happened since he had been away for a whole month, but things were flowing smoothly.

The first place he stopped by was Burnel's laboratory.

Burnel's difficult-to-understand theories were gradually being refined to the point where they were easier to understand.

It was an achievement made possible by the 15 assistants helping him.

'We still have a long way to go, though.'

His biggest challenge, as expected, was Malcolm.

"Mr. Malcolm, could you please put this into the right inlet?"

"You mean the right side, correct!? Understood!"

"No, the right! The hand you eat with! No, not there! Aaargh!"

To those who had lived their lives competing with geniuses, Malcolm was truly nothing short of a disaster.

If they said even slightly difficult words, he would immediately pop a question mark over his head,

and he was the greatest blockhead in history who confused not only north, south, east, and west, but even left and right.

To think they had to make an idiot understand things that even geniuses couldn't understand.

Burnel had torn at his hair so much that his once-abundant hair was thinning to the point where his scalp was visible.

Meanwhile, Malcolm, the very cause of it, was merely as bright as a dog out for a walk.

'Ultimately, magical engineering consists of items meant to be used by ordinary humans, not mages.'

If a human of Malcolm's caliber could understand its purpose and operate it, even if he couldn't apply it creatively, then ordinary people would be able to use it too.

That was the ultimate goal Ferda desired.

'Anyway, things seem to be going smoothly here.'

As he walked past watching them rack their brains, Ferda heard a loud voice from a corner of the corridor.

"Hyaaaang!?"

He could tell the moment he heard the fussing voice.

It was the Demon, Penelope.

"What is with this witch?!! Why is a witch blatantly wandering around a Dragon's castle?!"

The witch she was referring to was unmistakably Echidna.

"Fufufufufu, if a Demon is wandering around, why couldn't a witch do the saaaame?"

He wondered why the two of them were tangled up together, but the reason was soon revealed.

"Excuse me, Miss Echidna? Could you calm down and listen to me?"

It was because of Zed.

Stepping closer to look, he was certain.

Penelope was clinging to Zed's leg, Zed was at a loss, and Echidna was thrusting a knife toward Zed.

Echidna's eyes were unfocused.

"Ah, Sir Zed. Please don't worry. I won't harm you, Sir Zed. I'm just trying to perform a contract separation art."

"A contract separation art?"

"Yes, it's a method of avoiding the curse by severing the area where Sir Zed's mark is engraved and granting it new life. Then Sir Zed will have a completely clean body just like before."

"... Isn't that just saying you're going to chop off my arm?"

"And you'll have to live a painful life every day. But that level of pain is nothing!"

Zed was so dumbfounded that he ended up revealing his true feelings.

"Are you crazy?"

"It's fine! Even if you only have one arm, I'll love you foreeeever, Sir Zed!"

"Well, I love my arm?!"

"Let's overcome it! With our love!"

Here, too, a complete mess was unfolding in its own way.

Just by listening to their conversation, he could easily deduce the cause.

'It's because of the pact made with Penelope.'

On the day of the rescue, Ferda had made Penelope and Zed enter into a contract.

It was to prevent Penelope's body from returning to Hell and simultaneously to monitor her movements.

He had also firmly set up a gag order to ensure she could never speak about Sitri's Life Vessel without his permission.

Although she was essentially in the position of wearing a dog collar, it was the best possible condition from Penelope's perspective.

Rather than living as a fugitive fleeing everywhere, wasn't she able to hide safely inside a Dragon's lair?

'Is it... good for Zed as well?'

He was a guy who reflexively hit on any woman he saw.

Since Penelope was a woman as well, he had thought it wouldn't be a bad thing.

Ferda hadn't accurately explained Penelope's usage to Zed.

It was enough for him to simply know that she was the daughter Sitri treasured immensely.

While Zed was caught between a Demon and a witch, he made eye contact with Ferda.

Zed's eyes said this:

Please save me.

As the saying goes, a man speaks with his back.

Ferda turned his back like a man.

Deal with it yourself.

'Anyway, things are rolling along without a hitch.'

He went on his way without knowing what had transpired while he was away from the castle.

"Lord Ferda."

The petite girl in a maid outfit, Luri, also approached him as usual.

"I have prepared it."

"Understood."

Ferda unnecessarily adjusted his tie.

Black hands extended from his clothes and began adjusting them once more.

He had risked making a deal with a Demon to obtain information.

He had killed the one threatening Luri to avoid losing her.

Two perilous situations that threatened the very survival of the nation had befallen him.

However, even if all those moments were combined, nothing was as nerve-wracking as this very moment.

It felt like hiding a blanket he had wet in the wardrobe during his childhood.

Like hiding the kind of secret that might not be discovered right away, but would inevitably be found out someday.

Even that anxiety vanished as the doors to the recreation room opened.

What came into view was a wide-open balcony and a tea table.

And the out-of-place dragon knight armor.

'Today as well, huh.'

Since he had already seen it twice, it wasn't particularly surprising.

She was sitting perfectly still, looking in this direction.

The helmet, fashioned after Valdrova's Dragon visage, intimidated anyone facing it.

'Why is she just watching me silently?'

Ferda decided to walk forward for now.

He freely imagined what kind of expression she was making beneath that helmet.

He was able to realize the truth before his imagination reached the worst-case scenario.

"Zzz..."

She was asleep.

Valdrova's head tilted forward.

It tilted as if it would plunge right into the floor, before returning to its original position.

"Mmnn... mm... hm?"

As he waited quietly, Valdrova's helmet lifted and turned toward Ferda.

"Hm... Mr. Ferda...?"

A faintly echoing voice.

She stared at Ferda intently for a moment.

"Gasp!? Mr. Ferda!?"

She hurriedly stood up from her seat and welcomed Ferda.

"Y-Y-You're here!?"

"Yes. It is an honor to see you, Grand Duchess Valdrova."

"W-Welcome back. Mr. Ferda. I was just, um..."

Valdrova could not come up with a suitable excuse.

Ferda helped her out.

"It seems you had a lot on your mind. Falling so deeply into your thoughts, too."

"Pardon? Ah, the truth is I dozed off..."

"Usually, when a ruler dozes off and wakes up, it is polite to say such things."

"Ah, I-I see. That's right. I was th-thinking. Yes!"

She nodded continuously, seemingly pleased to have found a good excuse.

She was a woman who was terrible at lying.

"Are you alright, Mr. Ferda?"

"Yes."

"I heard there was a problem with your carriage. And that you stopped by Count Concillus's territory because of it..."

Ferda subtly glanced at Luri.

She, who was standing like a folding screen, gave a slight nod.

So Ferda affirmed it as well.

"Yes, that is correct."

"Did you get hurt or anything?"

"It wasn't a major issue. It was a problem that could be fixed with minor maintenance."

"That's a relief. I was a little worried."

She was genuinely relieved.

That reaction became the very reason why the secret was necessary.

"What was discussed at the Grand Council?"

Ferda talked about what had happened at the Grand Council.

Stories of simple territorial disputes.

"I see. On the Serdes Continent... of course, I've heard that wars break out occasionally."

Territorial disputes between elves and dwarves.

"Are they still fighting? It seems they were doing that in the past as well..."

It was mostly stories like that.

Conflicts and anger.

There were no stories that would make laughter bloom.

Yet, Valdrova was listening deeply.

That was why it was frightening.

Frightening that he might get swept up in her innocence and make a mistake.

It was not easy to step into that pure snowfield with muddy feet.

"And..."

He reached the end of the story.

"We discussed the eastern conquest."

"The eastern conquest?"

"I declared that we would conquer the Land of Demons on our border."

"Ah."

The Land of Demons.

Hearing those words, Valdrova, who had been chiming in, fell silent.

She was unnecessarily fiddling with her forearm.

Her gaze turned beyond the balcony.

The scenery of early autumn, when colors underwent their richest changes.

And it was the scenery that ordinary people of the Serdes Continent saw.

"That place currently called the Land of Demons, too."

A voice steeped in faint memories.

"There was a time when it had such beautiful scenery."

Complex emotions dwelled within that voice.

"It's a place stained black right now, but it can regain those pretty colors again, right?"

Of course.

He could have ended it simply with those words, but Ferda could not do so.

"It won't be easy."

Ferda did not express certainty.

"But I will do whatever it takes to reclaim the scenery you saw."

Instead, he revealed his resolve.

"Is that so?"

Valdrova, too, brightened up as if those words resonated with her.

"If there's anything I can do to help, I will help as much as I can."

She clenched her fists tightly.

"Since my fiancé is working hard, I can't just sit back and do nothing."

"If Your Highness extends your hand to help, it would be the greatest honor for me."

Watching her, Ferda felt his heart settle at ease.

Being able to accept her words exactly as they were without needing to read deeply into her intentions.

This was surely true innocence.

"Um... is there nothing else to tell?"

"There is nothing else."

"Ah, I see..."

Valdrova trailed off in a voice lacking confidence.

What could it be?

What kind of story was she expecting?

Ferda brought the cooling black tea to his mouth.

"Well, Luri mentioned..."

"Yes."

"That you even held hands with a woman named Olivia."

"Pfft."

He choked and spewed out the black tea in a spectacular fashion.

Valdrova was even more flustered than Ferda, who had spewed the black tea.

"Mr. Ferda? Are you alright?!"

"Yes, I'm alright."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you... I just wanted to talk about it..."

Ferda wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and averted his eyes.

He met eyes with Luri, who was standing like a folding screen.

Did you seriously end up telling her that too?

When he glared at her with eyes conveying that question, Luri averted her gaze.

It would be a lie to say he didn't feel any resentment.

His head started to ache in an instant.

What could he say to get out of this situation?

That bitch grabbed my hand first?

I did hold her hand, but it didn't really mean much?

Dozens of excuses popped into his head, but Ferda immediately erased them.

"I apologize. To think I held hands with another woman when I have Your Highness..."

"Pardon, betrayal? I don't care about things like that!"

She waved her hands dismissively and said.

"Mr. Ferda is a man, too... and I heard she's incredibly pretty as well, so yes, I think it's perfectly understandable."

She muttered as if she understood, but her fidgeting fingers and bowed head said otherwise.

Ferda's heart felt crushed by guilt.

"So, regarding that..."

Her eyes looking down cautiously.

"By any chance..."

She slightly tilted her head and asked Ferda.

"Do you... by any chance... want to hold my hand, too...?"

Ferda's head rang with a ding.

"... Pardon?"

He ended up asking foolishly.

"Your Highness's... hand, you mean?"

"Yes. You've held it once before, too... and I think I can at least handle that much, so..."

"Though showing my face is still too much."

She waited for his answer, mumbling those words in her mouth.

"H-How about it?"

Contrary to her lighthearted attitude, Ferda exercised more caution than ever before.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

He couldn't just recklessly throw it away.

He struggled to calm his trembling, and swallowed his saliva to clear his throat in order to produce a rational voice.

"I... would like to hold it."

"Understood. Just a moment."

She took off her gauntlet.

Unlike the massive gauntlet, a small, slender hand was revealed to Ferda.

It was a fragile arm that didn't feel at all like the Aspect of Power.

When she shyly curled it into a fist, it became even smaller.

"H-Here you go!"

She offered it out, showing her palm.

Ferda gazed down at it as if he were mesmerized.

Her slender fingers and even the creases drawn on her palm looked like a painting.

Ferda carefully placed his hand on her palm—.

"Hic!?"

Valdrova's hand flinched and pulled away in a flash.

He didn't even have time to feel its softness.

"What is the matter?"

"No, it's just... the thing is... I-I feel like I won't be able to control my strength properly... Just give me a moment to mentally prepare myself..."

Her words trailed off, and rough breathing could be heard from inside the helmet.

His heart had secretly sunk, thinking she was going to say she changed her mind.

She caught her breath with her mismatched hands placed on her chest.

Since her tension didn't seem to be fading easily, Ferda made her a proposal.

"Since you're having trouble controlling your strength, how about I place my hand on top instead?"

"Gasp! That is an option! Let's... do that."

Valdrova gently placed her hand on the table, back of the hand facing up.

Ferda once again placed his hand on top of hers.

CRACK—.

At that moment, the sound of something breaking was heard.

Looking closely, the table was cracked.

'Didn't they say this table was made of granite?'

A material boasting such high durability that it wouldn't break even if a meteor fell from the sky.

If a table was made of that, it meant it was the sturdiest table on the continent.

'They said it rarely ever cracks, but as expected...'

She wasn't called the Aspect of Power for nothing.

Thinking that, Ferda suddenly found himself looking back on his past actions.

His first meeting with her.

The act he had committed out of the impulse to see Valdrova's face.

'I'm pretty sure I even interlocked my fingers with hers back then.'

Ferda felt grateful for the fact that his right hand hadn't been pulverized.

Even while feeling such a chilling dread, Ferda could not let go of Valdrova's hand.

It was small and soft.

A warm body temperature and a vividly felt pulse.

A small piece he never wanted to let go of for the rest of his life.

If he had to let go, he at least wanted to feel it without any regrets.

'Maybe it'd be fine even if my hand gets slightly crushed.'

He considered just going for it recklessly, but Ferda's reason quelled that thought.

"Are you still suffering from that bloodlust these days?"

Valdrova shook her head.

"No... I'm fine."

"Lady Valdrova was unable to hunt yesterday."

"L-Luri?"

Valdrova grew flustered.

Like someone who had suddenly popped out of nowhere, she tossed out the information and then closed her mouth again.

"Is this true?"

"That's... yes... But it should be fine. Just because they didn't come out yesterday, there's no guarantee the monsters won't come today."

"But there is no guarantee they will come, either."

"Yes, that's... true."

"If you are unable to hunt, you will end up harming yourself."

"..."

Valdrova closed her mouth.

She was simply at a loss for what to say in such an atmosphere.

However, conversation was not entirely necessary.

"Ah..."

Valdrova felt something flowing in through the back of her hand.

This was a sensation she knew very well.

It was the very thing that had quelled her bloodlust previously.

"Mr. Ferda..."

"It is alright."

Valdrova closed her mouth.

As it entered her body, it was calmly soothing her heart.

Even though she had already felt it once before, she almost let out an exclamation of awe.

To think that sensation, which could only be relieved by going on a rampage, could subside so calmly.

"Um, Mr. Ferda..."

"Yes."

"I think this is enough."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

Ferda ceased his mana infusion.

Silence fell.

An incredibly awkward silence.

Yet, neither dared to break that silence.

Because the moment they opened their mouths, it felt like they would both immediately stand up from their seats.

Because it felt like these hands, connected through courage, would draw apart.

Just a little longer.

They enjoyed this uncomfortable silence.